Oliver Hundebøll has a renewed sense of purpose as he returns to action at this week’s SDC Open following his breakthrough victory earlier this month.
The Dane secured a maiden European Challenge Tour victory at the Mangaung Open, the most recent tournament on the 2022 Road to Mallorca, and will this week tee it up in the fifth of seven co-sanctioned events between the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour, which will be played across Zebula Golf Estate & Spa and Elements Private Golf Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa.
The 22-year-old came through the field to enter the winner’s circle in Bloemfontein and believes the result, although unexpected, has changed the outlook of his season and is now targeting a berth in the top 20 to secure his DP World Tour playing rights for 2023.
“It felt amazing to win my first Challenge Tour event,” he said. “I never thought about winning especially after my front nine on the final day in Bloemfontein. The weather that week was similar to back home in Denmark so I think that was an advantage because I am used to the rain.
“Everything has changed after the victory because now I can focus on getting in the top 20,” said Hundebøll. “I had a flight booked on Sunday night after my victory and I decided to go home to rest and make sure I was fully recharged for this event. Finishing in the top 20 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings is the goal for me.
“I’ve loved my time so far in South Africa and I have seen so much,” he added. “This year is the first time I have been here and it is such a nice country. This is also the first time I have played golf in the bushveld so it should be interesting.”
Hundebøll is joined in Limpopo by Road to Mallorca Number One JC Ritchie, who is eyeing his third victory of the season and subsequently automatic promotion to the DP World Tour. The ten-time Sunshine Tour winner sits in pole position on the Rankings after back-to-back victories at the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and Jonsson Workwear Open.
The SDC Open will begin on Thursday March 24 at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa and Elements Private Golf Reserve. The first round will begin at 7:00am local time, with Hundebøll teeing it up at 11:45am alongside South African Luke Brown and Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist.
